Allison Vines-Rushing

Chef/Owner, MiLa, New Orleans, LA
Culinary Arts, 2000

Born in Louisiana and raised in Florida, Allison Vines-Rushing graduated from Florida State at Tallahassee with a Bachelor’s degree in biology. After graduating, she moved to New York City to attend ICE. She says, “Deciding to attend school in New York was one of the best decisions I’ve made career-wise. It gave me the confidence to remain in the culinary scene.” She explored her southern roots as an extern at New Orleans’ venerable Brennan’s and worked at Gerrard’s Downtown. Then she headed back to New York City in 2001, working at Picholine and four-star Alain Ducasse. In 2003, she was the chef at Jack’s Luxury Oyster Bar when it opened. In 2004, she received the James Beard Foundation’s Rising Star Chef of the Year Award. She moved back to the New Orleans with her husband, Chef Slade Rushing, in 2005, where they own and operate MiLa, featuring seasonal produce from local farms.